TOPIC:

I am looking for possible online or library sources of those from my local town in North Dorset who may have served/died in South Africa in the Anglo-Boer War campaigns. I suspect it may entail some visits to Dorchester. Any steers gratefully received. We certainly had a local Yeomanry squadron based in the town who would have doubtless sent lads off to South Africa, but I have found a chap who died in Pretoria (of Enteric Fever) and was serving in 36 Coy RGA. I haven't located his burial plot in Pretoria. 10997 Gunner Alfred J Goddard.

Hi Cognitio
Welcome to the forum.


With regard to other soldiers you are trying to identify. You could start with the Imperial Yeomanry records. They are available on Ancestry. You have not mentioned the town which you seek. However, I had a quick search on the I Y records. I put the date 1900 in and left all the boxes blank except for the key word Dorset. I had 224 hits of soldiers being born in the county. If you try your town and Dorsetshire it may narrow the search down for you. As you have mentioned, the Dorset regimental museum maybe able to help and the National Archives. Good luck with your quest.

Dave...

PS....If you find soldiers related to the Dorset town you are researching and need a little help.
Then don't hesitate to ask the forum. There are some extremely knowledgeable and helpful members who could possibly assist you.

Many thanks Dave. I will try my luck at my local library in Gillingham first - they have the free-to-use Ancestry version. Not too sure how good it is in terms of searching for military records. However, we will see.

Church Street Cemetery Pretoria

Absolutely fantastic many thanks indeed he is the first of our town's Boer War casualties that I have discovered. We are hoping to record them locally here in Gillingham Dorset.

A few Imperial Yeomanry chaps from your town for you to check out. These came up with the Gillingham Dorset search. Narrowed it down to 8 Imperial Yeomanry soldiers from your area.
Weymouth crops up reference attestation, maybe worth a visit to their military archives if they retain them. Looks like these I Y chaps all made it home .